Borrowing

What you can borrow

Most items are available for loan for a three-week period, known as a Standard Loan. More heavily used items are restricted to a one-week loan (Week Loan) or a two-day loan (Day Loan). Week Loans are identified by an orange label and Day Loans are identified by a green label. Standard Loans have no label. Some very heavily used items are kept on restricted access at the Circulation Desk. This is called the Reserve Collection. Items from the Reserve Collection may be borrowed for up to 3 hours for use in the Library. The table below lists how many items can be borrowed from each loan category, by category of student.

Diplomas & Undergraduates

	Standard Loan	Week Loan	Day Loan	Reserve
Number	3 Items	2 items	1 item	2 items*
Duration	3 weeks	1 week	2 days	3 hours in the Library

Taught Postgraduates

	Standard Loan	Week Loan	Day Loan	Reserve
Number	6 Items	2 items	1 item	2 items*
Duration	3 weeks	1 week	2 days	3 hours in the Library

Research Post graduates

	Standard Loan	Week Loan	Day Loan	Reserve
Number	10 Items	2 items	1 item	2 items*
Duration	1 semester	1 week	2 days	3 hours in the Library

*Please note that all 3-hour loans, e.g. laptops, are counted a 1 Reserve item.

Taught and research postgraduates can also borrow print periodicals to a maximum of five bound volumes at any one time for a three-week period. Unbound volumes or periodicals published before 1900 may not be borrowed.

For staff details, please click here.

All library material on loan may be recalled at any time which may require the return of an item sooner than the original due date. See also Recalls, Overdues and Fines.

What you need for borrowing

Student ID cards are required for borrowing. The number on this card is also your Verification (PIN) code, which is required for access to My Library Card. You can change your Verification (PIN) code via My Library Card. Lost cards must be reported immediately - students of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth report to the Registrar's Office and students of St Patrick's College, Maynooth report to the Theology Office. Cards are non-transferable and students are responsible for all items borrowed on their cards.

Where you can borrow

You can borrow at the self-service borrowing machine located beside the Circulation Desk on level 1. There is a guide on how to use the service beside the machine. You can also borrow at the Circulation Desk. Note that self-service is available during all the hours the Library is open (with the exception of Sundays), so, if the Circulation Desk is closed you can still borrow.  If you choose to borrow at the Circulation Desk at closing time, you can avoid queues by borrowing your books as early as possible.  An intercom system alerts users to closing times.

Laptops and material from the Reserve Collection must be borrowed at the Circulation Desk.

Returning

Borrowed material including items from the Reserve Collection can be returned without queuing by placing them in the relevant post box at the Circulation Desk. However, laptops must be returned directly to the Circulation Desk.

My Library Card

This facility enables you to check when your loans are due back, the status of your requests and to renew your loans, etc. A comprehensive guide to using My Library Card is available online or from the display stand near the Information Desk on level 1.

Renewing

Standard Loans that are not requested by another library user, may be renewed once by all borrowers. Please note that Week Loans, Day Loans and Reserve items cannot be renewed. A comprehensive guide to using My Library Card is available online or from the display stand near the Information Desk on level 1.

Requesting items

You can place a request on Standard Loans that are on loan to other library users.  When all Standard Loans are on loan, an option to request them will appear on the left hand side of each item listed. Please note that Week Loans, Day Loans and Reserve items cannot be requested.

A comprehensive guide to using My Library Card is available online or from the display stand near the Information Desk on level 1.

You will be notified via your university e-mail account when the item is available.  It will be held for you for 5 days at the Circulation Desk.  You must borrow items held for you before you can borrow other Standard Loans.

Recalls, Overdues and Fines

All library material on loan may be recalled by the Library at any time. Please note that you may be required to return the item sooner than the original due date. If the item is not returned on the revised due date, it becomes overdue and a fine will apply.

In order to ensure that as many library users as possible have a chance to access library material, users are encouraged to return items on time. To support this the Library charges fines on all items not returned on the due date. You will not be able to borrow or renew books if you have overdues or outstanding fines. The Library will send you an overdue notice via your university e-mail address. There is a charge of €0.50 for each notice generated. The fines are:

• Standard Loans €0.50 per day
• Week Loans €1.00 per day
• Day Loans €2.00 per day
• Reserves €1.00 per hour